Without even trying, Hannibal watercolor artist Brenda Beck Fisher may have come one step closer to her goal of becoming a full-time artist.

Currently working as program coordinator at the Hannibal Arts Council, the award-winning artist had a nice surprise a few months ago.

As the result, a picture she painted of white egrets is now adorning cans of Southgate chili being sold locally as well as nationwide, and the picture is accompanied by a brief biography of Beck Fisher.

"I did not get paid for this opportunity but am getting a lot of free publicity," Beck Fisher said. She did receive a gift of 48 cans of the chili with her picture.

Beck Fisher did not seek this publicity but received it thanks to a friend living in Nashville, the home of Vietti Foods Company. "The owner of the company likes art and wanted to help promote artists," Beck Fisher said. "They picked only 12 artists to be featured.

"Someone told him (her friend) about artists on labels, and he said he has a friend who is an artist," Beck Fisher continued.

Her friend gave the company her website, www.wix.com/beebee_wc/BrendaBeckFisher

After viewing her art, the company selected her picture of white egrets, and contacted her about using it.

Although the picture is on cans of Southgate chili, "it doesn't have anything to do with chili," Beck Fisher said. "They are promoting artists. The program is called Art of Discovery, to help expose the artist." More details about the program are on the website, www.southgatebrands.com/discovery.

The cans of chili are already on shelves in local stores, she said. "The company has begun distributing 150,000 cans in Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores in 48 states.

"I have no idea how they distribute them as far as which artist's labels go to which stores. I do know that I have found cans with my art on it at one of the Dollar General stores in Hannibal."

She has heard from friends and family who discovered her picture on the cans in other places, including Virginia, Tennessee, Kansas City and Arkansas.

Beck Fisher has not yet heard from strangers, but she thinks the chili cans "are just now beginning to show up on the shelves."

Asked how long she has been an artist, Beck Fisher was quick to respond, "I was born one."

She received a degree in art, but took time out to raise four children, explaining "I haven't been able to do artwork until the end of 2001, after raising four kids."

In 2001 she began doing watercolors and now that is her chosen art form, she said "I am now striving to become a full-time artist."